Blunt tells businesses: Job loss is top priority

LAKE OZARK, Mo. -- When Secretary of State Matt Blunt began his speech before a conference of Missouri business leader Thursday, he made one point clear.

"I'm not here today to criticize the Missouri Chamber of Commerce," Blunt said.

The remark by Blunt, the likely Republican nominee for governor next year, alluded to tough comments Democratic Gov. Bob Holden made a few weeks ago at another chamber-sponsored conference.

Holden blasted the chamber for doing more harm than good to Missouri's business climate by constantly berating the state as the national leader in job losses. The governor said 29,000 jobs have been created in the state since January.

Whereas Holden was in the lion's den of a group that has been a harsh critic of his administration, Blunt was in friendly territory and took the opportunity to tout positions advocated by the chamber.

Blunt said his top goal as governor would be to address the problem of job loss. Chamber officials cited federal statistics they said showed Missouri lost 73,500 jobs in an 18-month period ending July 1.

"We need to have an administration that will face challenges and confront them head-on, not deny that they exist," Blunt said.

In the nearer term, Blunt said he would also use his power as secretary of state to block an administrative rule that would allow public employee unions to unilaterally deduct fees from the checks of workers they represent who have chosen not to join a union. Blunt said the administration has no legal authorization to impose the rule.

"I think the taking of service fees from people who don't want to join a union is particularly offensive," Blunt said.

Blunt also said he favored reforming state laws governing civil litigation. The Republican-led legislature passed such a bill this year. Holden has said he favors tort reform but that the GOP bill went too far in denying residents access to the courts.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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